London Calling

Keep Calm

So, next week I’m going to London. To shop. I’m not even going to pretend there’s any other reason for going besides burning a hole in my credit card at the new 6-story flagship H&M store in Oxford Circus (squeeee!) and attempting to stuff 30kg of new beauty products in my suitcase without getting arrested. Oh, and I will also be shopping for a wedding dress. GIRLIE HEAVEN.

Before I get completely carried away with excitement, I thought I would share a few recent skincare purchases with you that will be waiting patiently for me at my brother’s flat when I arrive. Let’s just call it a warm-up.

Recent skincare buys

REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
I know you can get this here but it was 20% off at LookFantastic.com so I’m actually saving the equivalent of nearly R100 with this one. This zingy, citrus-based face mask is designed to “renew the complexion, reduce fine lines, and improve skin tone, firmness and radiance” by exfoliating your skin with fruit enzymes. It’s all-natural and free of nasties plus REN never tests on animals so I’m actually helping to save the planet by buying this (see, told you I could rationalise any purchase!).

Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This product gets a lot of airtime on beauty blogs overseas and might be the most hyped-up skincare product I’ve ever seen. I buckled under the pressure and bought a supersize bottle because it was insanely good value for money and I can’t pass up a bargain. Liquid Gold uses the chemical exfoliant glycolic acid to slough away dead skin cells while you sleep. It is supposed to resurface the skin and effectively diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage, which I’m definitely ok with! Really looking forward to trying this one.

Clarisonic Mia 2
Ok, I’m seeing an exfoliation trend here… Anyway, Camilla convinced me to get one of these babies and after reading her recent review I was completely sold. I don’t have bad or sensitive skin, but I am getting older and I figure anything I can do to help out my face as I go into my 30s can only be a good thing. I get some congestion on my forehead, chin and nose (the stubborn, oiler patches of my face that trap bacteria and make me look all shiny) so I am interested to see how this will work to change the texture of my skin and improve these areas in particular.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm
This is another super-hyped product from the UK and has won loads of awards over the past year or so. It’s an oily balm cleanser, like the Lush Ultrabland I reviewed in our February Favourites, that melts on contact with your skin, making it easy and soothing to massage over your face. You then remove the product with a soft flannel or muslin cloth that has been soaked in hot water and then squeezed out. It is supposed to be an extremely thorough but gentle cleanse, leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturised and looking revived and radiant. The bar is high on this one but I have yet to read a negative review so I’m holding thumbs for a cleansing miracle!

Ok, I’m off to rob a bank quickly. See you tomorrow!

Images via 1 and 2.

2 comments on London Calling

  • Jo

    I’m interested to hear what you have to say about the Clarisonic Mia – whether it’s worth it for some one who doesn’t have problem or sensitive skin

    • Camilla

      I think it’s an invaluable beauty tool – I have noticed a real improvement in the texture of my skin – it’s much softer and smoother, for the most part. Also, I feel like my skin is a lot cleaner after I use it – like it’s really gotten rid of all the make-up and dirt.

      The obvious bonus for me is that it has helped ease congestion, so I think for those of us who suffer with blemishes, it’s a must-have. For those who don’t have problem skin, it’s really a matter of whether you want to spend that kind of money – it took me two years to take the plunge and buy it – you don’t have to make the decision now. I would recommend waiting to hear Julia’s feedback – you two have very similar skin, so her experience with Clarisonic will help guide you more than mine will I think.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *